TAC what kayak are you using? I used to use a Hobie Quest, and really enjoyed it, but at that time I was fishing fresh water also and had a huge gator that got a little to close ( I think he was after my stringer ) so I sold the kayak and got a Gheenoe. Now that I am exclusively fishing salt I was thinking about another kayak.

What is a Gheenoe?

Hobie's are very nice yaks, was yours peddle drive?

I hear ya on the gators, I haven't ever had one come after my stringer, but it does cross my mind.

Last summer we launched one Sat. at 5am, the guy that was in front had a large gator splash water on him. That's to close, it was still dark so he didn't see the gator until he was right up on it.